Gate



M. FLECK May 2, 1933,

GATE

Filed Nov. 13. 1931 '6 Sheets-Sheet 1 A INVENTOR' Natlmcas FZecK By A ttor-nay M. FLECK May 2, 1933.

GATE

Filed Nov. i3, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Attorney M. FLECK May 2, 1933.

GATE

Filed Nov. 15;, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 :NvENToR I Ma-LLQS FecK Ma/W A ttm/nay May 2, 1933. M, FLECK 1,906,903

GATE

Filed Nov. 13, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN l/ENTOR`v Ma has FlecK Attorney May 2, 1933. M. FLECK 1,906,903

GATE

Filed Nov. 13, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 NVENTOR Mathias FlecK ttorney May 2, 1933. y M FLECK 1,906,903

GATE

Filed NOV. l5, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheefl 6 INVENTOR Attorney Patented May 2, i933 IVIATHAS FLECK, E TORQUAY, SASKATCHEW'N, CANADA GATE Application led November 13, 1931.

This invention relates to gates, and more aarticularh to a farm 0ate Swingin@` verl :n 7 n object being to provide gate which may beV ically to open or closed position7 its primary opened automatically as the vehicle approaches the same and closed as the vehicle leaves the same.

A further object is to provide means whereby the gate may be opened by hand from a l0 farm wagon.

A still further object is to provide means whereby the gate may be opened by hand by person on foot. With these and other objects in view that may appear while the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically set forth claimed and shown in the accompanying `drawings forming a 20 part of this present application and in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my invention as designed to be opened by a vehicle.

2 is an elevation atright angles to Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detailed plan view ot the gate bar brace and part of the mechanism.

Fig. l is a detail view of the revolving mechanism showing the saine in position when the gate 1s open.

Fig. 5 is a partial plan view of the gate and operating mechanism as designed to be oprated by pull cable method.

Fig. G shows the gate supporting guides on the gate post.

Fig. Z is an elevation of the inside of the gate post showing the gate supporting guides and catch.

ig. 8 shows the spring adjustment device o` balancing the weight orn the gate.

4ig. 9 is an end elevation partially in "ion of the gate opening cable and pulley vhanism as designed for opening the gate rom a farm wagon.

Fig. 10 is a detail view orn the cable guide as een from the underneath side.

Fig. 11 is a further detail or" the cable guide showing the slidable extending features of the same.

Serial No. 574,865.

Fig. 12 is a detail view of the support for the cable guide.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the two 16 is a partial front elevation of the gate as designed to be opened from a farm agen showing gate closed. F i g. 17 is a similar view to Fig. 16 showing gate opened.

Fig. 18 is an enlarged detail view of the pivotal assembly with the gate opened.

Fig. 19 is a similar view with the gate osed. Referring more 1n detail to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate correspon-ding parts throughout the several views it will be seen the invention comprises gate posts 21 and 22. The gate proper comprises a plurality of parallel wires 23 with individual pivotally mounted tightening means 24. The wires are secured at their outer ends to an upright post 25 and pivoted at their inner ends to a supporting bracket 26 attached to the post 21. rlhe gate is supported by a tubular bar 27 which has an eX- tension arm 28 and a right angled extending member 29. post 21 by means of the operating mechanism rlhe bar 27 is pivoted on the and the extension 28 at its outer end is pivangularly therefrom, and a catch 32 pivoted on the upright gate member 25 or the eX- tension bar 2S. wire 33 connects the said catch'to the operating mechanism, to be later described, and causes the catch to be withn drawn from the member when the gate is to be opened, a spring 33ais provided to operate the said catch as the gate closes. A pair of U-shaped loops 34 are secured to the upright member and cooperate with hooks 35 bolted in the gate post 22 to support the gate when closed, guide members 36 being provided to guide the loops over the hooks as the gate decends into the closed position.

The operating mechanism comprises a crank shaped member 37 pivoted in ground supports 38 and connected at right angles to a shaft 39 by means of bevel gearing in the gear housing 40. The upright portion of the crank 37 is designed to be engaged by the wheel of a vehicle approaching the gate. This depresses the said crank inwar-dly which in turn transmits a torsional movement to the shaft 39, said shaft being coupled by a universal joint 4l to the member 42 which leans against one wall 43 of a cut out portion of the circular member 44, turns the said circular member 44 in the direction of the arrow Fig. 4 until the spring hook 45 engages the notch 46 in the periphery of the member1 44 which holds it in this position. The said spring hook is pivoted on a bracket 46 supported on the gate post 2l. A short strong spring 47 is mounted around the member 48 to which one end of the said Spring is secured the other end being secured to the member 44, the spring 47 has been torsionally tensioned in the direction of the arrow Fig. 4. Since the hook does not permit the member 44 to return to its normal position, the spring, seeking relaxation, transmits the mentioned twist to the member 48 a protruding arm 49 of the member 48, having a slight play between the angle of the bar 27 and its angular disposed member 29 moves backward until it rests against the member 29. This slight movement of the member 48 and its arm 49 pulls the latch 33 wire which is attached to the said arm 49, the other end of the wire being attached to the catch 32 as previously mentioned, thus releasing the gate fastening device. The moment the said fastening device is released a projection 49a on the arm 49 bears against the member 29 causing the whole gate structure to pivotally swing up to a vertical position, (the wires of the said gate remaining in parallel rel-ation to each other but fold close together) thus opening the gate. When the gate is in an opened position the member 42 moves to its normal vertical position. In this movement it follows in the cut out of the member 44. This movement is caused by the spring 50 which is att-ached to the arm 5l said arm being part of the member 52, the other end of the spring being attached to the bracket 53 mounted on-the gate post 2l. The members 42 and 52 are secured to a shaft 54 of smaller diameter than the main pivot shaft 55 and is rotatably mounted within the said shaft 55 which is hollow. The member 48 is rotatably mounted on the said shaft 55 while the gate bar 27 and the brace bar 30 may be secured thereto. The spring 50 causes the cranks 37, and the mechanism connected thereto, to resume their normal position immediately after the vehicle wheel has passed over the said crank.

It will be seen that all vehicles approaching the gate with the intention of going through will, on passing over either of the cranks 37 or 37 a depress the same inwardly and that after having gone through the gate will engage the other crank and depress the saine outwardly, when the gate is opened and in the position as shown in Fig. 4 a curved member 56, which is supported by a bracket 57 secured to the bar 27 and having its two ends wedgefiointed, will have travelled eclipse like partially around the circular notched member 44 until one of the wedge pointed ends engages the hook 45 and releases the same from the notch 46 in the said member 44. The vehicle now passes through and over the crank 37a which is now depressed outwardly and the reverse of what has been described in the foregoing takes place. The member 42 bears now on the opposite wall 58 of the'cut portion of the member 44 causing the same to move 90 in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4, thereby tensioning the spring 47, a spring hook 59 engages a notch 60 in the member 44 and bolos it in this position until the tensed spring has closed the gate and the wedge pointed end of the member 56 has engaged the said hook 59 on the return motion of the gate bar and released it from the said notch 60, and the entire gate and operating mechanism is in the same position as in Fig. l.

A large balancing spring 6l is adjustably mounted on a bracket 62 on the post 2l, and to the brace bar member 29. Provision is made for three way adjustment of the same, see 63, 64 and G5. This provides means of getting an exact balance of the gate structure which is an essential and necessary feature of the mechanism. The spring should be so adjusted that a dead center is attained at midway open or at an angle of 45, so that on the opening or closing arocedure the gate will automatically move to a straight Vertical position after it has passed this dead center and be held open, or snap closed after having passed midway on closing.

An important feature of this gate is the fact that the swinging part may be con structed very light and yet passes great strength. For the reason that when the gate is closed and the loops 34 have wedged over the hooks 35 (the hooks being bent outwardly for this purpose) eliminating all lost play then the spanned wires 23 become in effect, an integral part of the two posts.

It is obvious that any strain or force (by live stock ete.) will be borne by the posts and the tensile strength of the wires.

The employment of this design and principle does away with the necessity of using a strong frame on which to span the wire as is customary, and whereby the bending resistance of the frame is utilized to check any strain against the gate.

The alternative method of opening the gate, i. e., by the cable method will now be described.

The gate proper, the fastening and supporting device and also the method of balancing the gate remain as previously described. The cranks, gearing, shafts and revolving mechanism connected therewith are removed leaving only the main pivot shaft 55 and the inner shaft 54 protruding therefrom. Spring hooks 66 and 67 are pivotally mounted in the bar 27 and 29. The latch wire 33 has a short piece of chain 68 connected thereto, the other end of the said chain being secured to the end of the shaft 54. On the protruding end'of the shaft 54 is rotatably mounted the assembly 7 3 shown in Fig. 14. On the top end of the gate post 21, which is somewhat longer than in the previous case, two extending arms or cable guides are secured. A rod 69 running through a weight 70 which is secured thereto and a pulley housing 71 with its top end sliding in a guide loop 72 and member 74, its lower end connected pivotally of the assembly 7 8. When the assembly 73 is in the position shown in F ig. 16 and the enlarged detail view Fig. 19 the gate is closed. The weight 70 has borne down enough to have caused the hook 66 to engage over the extending pin 75. The said hook 66 will not release the pin consequently when either of the handles 76 and 7 6a, to which the cable 77 is attached said cable being run through the double pulley in the housing 71, a multiplied lift is transmitted to the rod 69 and therefore to the members secured thereto, as the assembly 73 is temporarily secured to the hook 66 the member 74 of the assembly 7 3, which is pivoted thereto at 78 swings pivotally causing the roller 79 to bear down on the chain 68 which causes a pull on the latch wire 33, causing the latch to be released.` This accomplished the check 8O prevents the member 74 from swinging further, the pull or lift of the cable pulleys, rod etc., is transferred to the gate bar 27 thus causing the entire structure to move vertically in the same manner as previously eX- plained. As soon as the gate stands open the bent end 81 of the hook 66 has come into contact with the bracket 26 and caused the said hook 66 to release its hold on the pin 7 5 The pulling on the handles 7 6 or 7 6a having achieved its purpose is released. The weight 7 0 causes the assembly 73 to fall over and engage with the hoolr 67. This movement has also pulled back the cable formerly drawn out with either handle as previously explained the balancing spring` holds the gate in the open position until the operating mechanism is again set in motion. This time to close the gate the hook 67 does not release its hold on the pin until the bent end S2 comes into contactwith the protruding member 83 on the bracket 26. `When bearing against the said member 82 the hook 67 is released from the pin 75 which permits the assembly 7 3 and the rod, weight etc., to resume their normal position. It will be noted that a pull on either of the handles will either open or close the gate. A ring 84 is shown at the junction of the handles and the cable. This serves a double purpose, it provides a stop to prevent the unpulled cable from being pulled in through the pulleys and also provides a means of engaging the cable with the tine of a hay forli from the top of a load of hay as it is obvious the handle could not be operated from this position. A cable guide 85 is shown having an extending sleeve 86 as being more conveniently mounted in this manner. The said guide being bent toward the center of the road. The cable guide 85 is secured to the, post 21 by inea is of a two L shaped bolts 87 and is supported at the outer ends by cables 88.

It is believed that the construction and advantages of the structure shown may bef apparent from the foregoing paragraphs taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings without further detailed construction.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed it is understood"L that minor changes in the details of construction combination of cooperating elements may be resorted to within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the, spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. Tn a gate structure of the type described, a stationary post, a vertically folding gate pivotally attached at one end to said, y post, a longitudinal bar having one end pivotally attached to said post and its opposite end pivotally attached to the free end of said gate, a rotatable shaft journaled in the post bearing of said bar, a rotatable crank mounted on said shaft having means engageablelv with said longitudinal har to raise the same, a disk rotatably mounted on said shaft, a coil spring mounted on said shaft havin g one end attached to said crank and its opposite.` end attached to said disk, and means for ro-`v tating said disk, thereby tensioning said spring.

2. In a gate structure of the type described, a stationary post, a vertically fold-, ing gate pivotally attached at one end to said i' post, a longitudinal bar having one end pivotally attached to the free end of said gate a hollow bearing for pivotally attaching the opposite end of said bar to said post.y a shaft, journaled in said bearing, a rotatable crank mounted on said shaft having means engageable with an angular extension extending vertically from the inner end of said bar, a disk rotatably mounted on said shaft, a coil spring mounted on said shaft having one end attached to said crank and its opposite end attached to said disk, said disk having a cnt out portion in its periphery and notches at spaced intervals, an arm fixed to said shaft and engageable in the out ont portion of said disk, means for rotating said shaft whereby said disk is rotated to tension said spring and spring catches engageable in the Anctches of said disk, whereby the disk is held against movement under the tension of said spring.

3. In a gate structure ofthe type described, a stationary post, a .ferticallj,7 folcing gate pivotally attached at one 'nd to said post, a longitudinal bar having one end pivotally attached to the free end of said gate, a hollow bearing for pivotally attaching the opposite end of said bar to said post, a brace bar having one end attached to said longitudinal'bar and its opposite end journaled on the opposite end of said bearing, a balancing spring adjustably mounted on said brace bar, a shaft jonrnaled in said hollow bearing, crank members mounted on the ground on opposite sides of said gate, said members being operatively connected with the ends of said shaft, a crank arm rotatably mounted on said snaft having means engageable with an angular extension extending vertically from the inner end of said bar, a disk rotatably mounted on said shaft, a coil spring mounted on said shaft having one end attached to said crank arm and its opposite end attached to said disk, said disk having` a cut out portion in its periphery and notches on opposite sides of the cut out portion, an arm iiXed on said shaft and engageable in said cut out portion of said disk, whereby said disk is rotated upon rotation of said shaft to tension said spring and spring catches engageable in the notches of said disk, whereby the disk is held against movement under the tension of said spring.

4l. In a gate structure of the type described, y

a stationary post, a vertically folding gate pivotally attached at one end to said post, a longitudinal bar having one end pivotally attached to the free end of said gate, a hollow bearing for pivotally attaching the opposite end of said bar to said post, a brace bar having one end attached to said longitudinal bar and its opposite end liournaled on the opposite end of said bearing, a balancing spring ad- 'justably mounted on said brace bar, a shaft journaled in said hollow bearing, crank inembers mounted on the ground on opposite sides of said gate, means operatively connecting said crank members with the ends of said shaft and means operatively connecting said shaft with said longitudinal bar, wnereby said gate is raised vertically upon rotation of said shaft.

5. In a gate structure of the type described, a stationary post, a vertically folding gate pivotally attached at one end to said post, a hollow bearing attached to said post, a longitudinal bar having one end pivotally attached to the free end of said gate and its opposite end journaled on said bearing, an extension extending upwardly from the inner end of said bar, a shaft journaled in said hollow bearing, crank members mounted on the ground on opposite sides of said gate, means operatively connecting said crank members with the ends of said shaft, a crank arm rotatably mounted on said shaft having means engageable with said extension of said bar, a disk rotatably mounted on said shaft, a coil spring mounted on said shaft having one end attached to said crank arm and its opposite end attached to said disk and means carried by said shaft for rotating said disk wherebyv MATHIAS FLECK. 

